Port Blair, Nov. 27: The 65th School Games Federation of India (SGFI) National School Football Championship for Boys Under-19 got off to a colourful start at the historic Netaji Stadium here today. The Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Mr. Chetan B. Sanghi, as the chief guest declared the tournament open in the presence of the Chairperson PBMC, Mr. N K Udhaya Kumar, the Secretary Education, Smt. Kriti Garg, Senior Officers of the A&N Administration, participating teams and a large gathering of sports enthusiasts, who converged at the Stadium. The Chief Secretary also hoisted the Championship Flag and unveiled the Championship Trophy. The prestigious tournament is being organized by the Directorate of Education.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Chief Secretary expressed happiness that the SGFI football tournament is being organized by the Education Department in these Islands. He asked the teams to play the game with true sportsmanship and perform well during the tournament.
Pointing that the SGFI has about 200 sports events, the Chief Secretary desired that SGFI should bring more sports event/tournaments in these Islands, for which the Administration will provide best possible support. He further stated that the teams from North-East States should also be invited in future to participate in the SGFI events organized in these Islands.
To the delight of the football lovers and players present in the Stadium, the Chief Secretary announced that under the Smart City programme of the PBMC, an Astro-Turf football ground will be developed in A&N Islands. This will encourage the football players here to perform better in the tournaments played at mainland.
The Chief Secretary congratulated the Secretary and Director of Education for the conduct of the SGFI Football tournament in these Islands. He was also introduced to the players of A&N Islands and IPSC prior to the start of the inaugural match and released a souvenir brought out by the Education Department.
In her address, the Secretary Education, Smt. Kriti Garg said that the SGFI since its inception, is providing the sports persons a platform to show their talent in the field of sports. This year, the Education Department got an opportunity to conduct the event, in which 30 teams are participating, including the A&N Islands’ team. The tournament in these picturesque Islands will provide an opportunity to the participating teams from different States and UTs to understand the cultures of each other and take back good memories from A&N Islands, she said.
The Observer, SGFI, Mr. K K Gupta showered all praise for the A&N Administration for organizing the event here and the hospitality provided to the teams on their arrival at Port Blair. He said, SGFI is the only Organization, which conducts 200 different games all over India enabling the players to meet each other and know the culture of different States.
An impressive march past by the participating teams on the tunes of band troupe from Girls’ School, cultural programmes by school children from GSSS Girls’, Bathubasti and Prothrapur Schools were the highlight of the opening ceremony.
